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Tensions erupt as snow clogs streets

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake describes the colossal task of removing snow in the city as "far more complicated than just pushing snow to the side." The problem with so much snow is, as soon as bare pavement appears, everybody wants a piece of it -- cars and people. Tensions can erupt, as 11 News saw with two drivers arguing over a single-lane street. The need for patience cannot be overstated. Major streets have been cleared, but a normal rush-hour may be a while in waiting.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake describes the colossal task of removing snow in the city as "far more complicated than just pushing snow to the side." The problem with so much snow is, as soon as bare pavement appears, everybody wants a piece of it -- cars and people. Tensions can erupt, as 11 News saw with two drivers arguing over a single-lane street. The need for patience cannot be overstated. Major streets have been cleared, but a normal rush-hour may be a while in waiting.

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Updated: 6:20 PM EST Jan 25, 2016

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WEBVTT TO GET THE SNOW OUT. THERE HAS BEEN MORE PROGRESS. BEHIND ME IT IS DOWN TO BARE PAVEMENT. NORMAL RUSH HOUR? WE ARE NOT READY FOR THAT. THE PROBLEM WAS SO MUCH SNOW IS AS SOON AS PAVEMENT APPEARS, EVERYBODY WANTS A PIECE OF IT. CARS AND PEOPLE. >> YOU HAVE GOT TO GO AROUND. THAT IS HOW WE HAVE GOT TO DO IT. JAYNE: TENSIONS CAN ERUPT, AS WE SAW WITH TWO DRIVERS ARGUING OVER A SINGLE LANE STREET. >> JUST BE GLAD IN FRONT OF THE FIREPLACE BECAUSE YOU AREN'T GETTING ANY WHERE WITHOUT FOUR WHEEL. JAYNE: THE NEED FOR PATIENCE CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. MAJOR STREETS HAVE BEEN CLEARED. BUT A NORMAL RUSH HOUR MAY BE A WHILE. WE'RE ON DRUID HILL AVENUE, NORMALLY TWO LANES HEADING SOUTH. BUT ALL THE SNOW HAS SQUEEZED IT DOWN TO ONE LANE. THEN YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM LIKE HERE. YOU CAN SEE HUGE PILES OF SNOW. THEY TAKE OUT AN ENTIRE LANE ALTOGETHER. HUGE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN TO LOAD UP AND HAUL AWAY SNOW. THE STORM BROKE RECORDS, DUMPING FAR TOO MUCH TO MERELY PLOW AND PUSH MAYOR RAWLINGS-BLAKE UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES OF THIS HISTORIC BLIZZARD, I HAVE BEEN BRINGING IN RESOURCES FROM OTHER STATES AND EVEN CANADA. JAYNE: FIRE OFFICIALS SAY CALLS FOR MEDICS ARE RUNNING HIGHER THAN USUAL, WITH COMPLAINTS OF CHEST PAINS, AND PEOPLE NEEDING PRESCRIPTION REFILLS. SOME SMALLER NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS THAT ARE HARD TO PLOW WERE STILL TOTALLY SNOWED IN TODAY. THE CITY ASKED PEOPLE SHOVELING OUT TO BE CREATIVE WHERE THEY PUT SNOW, DON'T THROW IT IN THE STREET. USUALLY IT IS BUILDUP OF CARS. BUT I GUESS NO ONE CAN PARK HERE. JAYNE: ALL THINGS CONSIDERED CITY OFFICIALS BELIEVE THEY'VE , MANAGED THE RECORD STORM WELL. >> I HAVE NEVER US SEEN IS REDUCE THE GRIDLOCK OF AN ENTIRE CITY SO QUICK. JAYNE: THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS SINCE 5:00 A.M., THERE HAVE BEEN 65 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. COMPARE THAT TO JUST THREE IN THE SAME TIME YESTERDAY. THAT MEANS PEOPLE GETTING OUT NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. IT IS STILL TREACHEROUS DRIVING. THERE WILL BE NO TRASH PICKUP TOMORROW IN THE CITY. THAT WILL START AGAIN ON SATURDAY. THERE ARE TWO SNOWMELTERS ON THEIR WAY HERE. THEY WILL START TOMORROW. THAT COULD AVOID THE NEED TO DUMP SNOW IN THE HARBOR. FINALLY, THERE IS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN PERSON YET. I WAS WATCHING IT WORK ON THE VIDEO. IT IS AN ENORMOUS SNOWBLOWER. IT IS ON LOAN FROM BOSTON. THE MAYOR SAID WHEN SHE SAW IT, SHE WAS BLOWN AWAY.

Tensions erupt as snow clogs streets

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake describes the colossal task of removing snow in the city as "far more complicated than just pushing snow to the side." The problem with so much snow is, as soon as bare pavement appears, everybody wants a piece of it -- cars and people. Tensions can erupt, as 11 News saw with two drivers arguing over a single-lane street. The need for patience cannot be overstated. Major streets have been cleared, but a normal rush-hour may be a while in waiting.